Sandwell

Sandwell's population increased by about 25,200 between the last two censuses. This semi-automated article highlights some of the key changes among the local population.

The population reached nearly 310,000

In the decade to 2011, the population of Sandwell increased by 8.9%, from just under 283,000 to 308,000.

The addition of just over 25,000 people means this area's population increased at a similar rate to the overall population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Sandwell was home to, on average, 26 people per football pitch-sized piece of land. This made it the West Midlands' second-most densely-populated district.

Population density was higher than the average across the West Midlands

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the West Midlands, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

Average age stable in Sandwell

Latest census data also show that the median age of Sandwell remained 36 years in the decade to 2011.

This area had the third-lowest average age in the West Midlands and remained somewhat younger than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The fall in age was because of an increase of about 9,000 people between the ages of 20 and 29 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by almost 2,000.

About 14.0% of people in Sandwell are aged between 20 and 29 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, West Midlands and Sandwell by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in Sandwell

In 2011, 19.2% of Sandwell residents said they were from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups, up from from 14.2% in 2001.

Across the West Midlands, the percentage of people from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from 7.6% to 10.8%, while across England the percentage went from 5.2% to 8.0%.

Around 69.9% of people in Sandwell said they were from one of the White ethnic groups, compared with 79.7% in 2001. About 6.0% said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups, compared with 3.8% 10 years prior.

The percentage of people who said they were from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) increased from 2.1% to 3.3%.

the population from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups in Sandwell increased by 5.1 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, West Midlands and Sandwell by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Changes in family structure

Sandwell saw the West Midlands' largest fall in the proportion of households without children.

In 2011, just over one in two (54.5%) households in Sandwell had no children, compared with 56.9% in 2001. The percentage with at least one child increased from 31.6% to 33.8%.

Across the region, Birmingham saw the next largest decrease in the proportion of households without children (from 57.7% in 2001 to 55.9% in 2011).

The proportion of households without children was lower than across the West Midlands

Percentage of households without children across local authority areas in the West Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in rate of self-employment

The percentage of Sandwell residents that were self-employed increased from 4.5% to 6.0% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

The percentage who said they were employed remained close to 50.8%, while the percentage of Sandwell residents that were unemployed increased from 5.3% to 7.3%.

The proportion of self-employed people increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the West Midlands (from 7.4% in 2001 to 8.5% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 8.2% to 9.7%.

The rate of self-employment in Sandwell increased by 1.5 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in Sandwell, the West Midlands and England that said they were self-employed, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in Sandwell

The 2011 Census asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, the largest percentage point increase in Sandwell was among those who said they had no religion, rising 8.3 points.

In 2011, 18.7% of respondents in Sandwell gave this answer to the question on religion, compared with 10.4% of those who answered in 2001.

Across the West Midlands, the percentage of people who answered the question on religion that described themselves as having no religion increased from 12.3% to 22.0%, while across England the percentage went from 14.5% to 24.6%.

Of those who disclosed their religion in Sandwell, 55.2% said they were Christian, compared with 68.6% in 2001. About 8.7% said they were Sikh, compared with 6.9% 10 years prior.

The percentage of people who disclosed a religious affiliation and said they were Muslim increased from 4.6% to 8.2%.

In Sandwell, 6.1% chose not to answer the question on religious affiliation, compared with 7.2% in 2001. In West Midlands, 6.6% did not answer the voluntary question, compared with 7.7% in 2001. Across England, 7.2% of people did not answer, compared with 7.7% in 2001.

the population without a religion in Sandwell increased by 8.3 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents who answered the voluntary question on religion in England, West Midlands and Sandwell by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

Sandwell saw the West Midlands' third-largest fall in the proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad.

In 2011, about 1 in 13 (7.7%) in Sandwell said their health was bad or very bad, compared with 11.9% in 2001. The percentage that perceived their health as good or very good increased from 62.6% to 76.7%.

Across the region, only Stoke-on-Trent (from 12.8% to 8.0%) and Wolverhampton (from 11.7% to 7.2%) saw a greater decrease in the proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

Every local authority area across the West Midlands saw a fall in the proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad, as the regional average fell from 9.7% to 6.1%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Sandwell decreased by 4.2 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Sandwell, the West Midlands and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Sandwell

The percentage of Sandwell residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 6.3% to 5.8% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just over 1 in 20 (5.1%) reported being limited a lot in their day-to-day activities, compared with 4.3% in 2001. The percentage of Sandwell residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability remained close to 89.1%.

The proportion of people who are slightly limited by a long-term health problem or disability fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the West Midlands (from 7.1% in 2001 to 6.8% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 6.8% to 6.5%.

The proportion of people who are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability was lower than across the West Midlands

Percentage of usual residents that reported being slightly limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the West Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of privately rented homes increased in Sandwell at a faster rate than in Dudley (the local authority area that shares the largest boundary with Sandwell).

In Sandwell, the proportion of private renting increased from 5.2% in 2001 to 12.9% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in nearby Dudley increased from 4.1% to 9.2%.

Across the West Midlands, the share of privately rented homes increased from 7.2% to 14.0%.

The rate of social housing in Sandwell fell from 30.1% to 27.5%, while the rate of home ownership decreased from 59.9% to 56.9%.

Private renting in Sandwell increased by 7.7 percentage points

Percentage of households in Sandwell, the West Midlands and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

More single people in Sandwell

The percentage of single people in Sandwell increased from 29.6% to 35.3% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just under one in two (45.7%) people aged 16 and over said they were married, compared with 50.3% in 2001. The percentage of adults in Sandwell that had divorced or separated from a married or civil partner increased from 10.0% to 11.2%.

The proportion of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the West Midlands (from 28.8% in 2001 to 33.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 30.5% to 34.9%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership was higher than across the West Midlands

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were single across local authority areas in the West Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

More people cohabiting

The percentage of households in Sandwell, which comprised a cohabiting couple, increased from 7.4% to 9.7% between the last two censuses.

The percentage that had only one person remained close to 30.4%, while the percentage of households in Sandwell which comprised a married couple (with or without children) decreased from 34.9% to 31.3%.

The proportion of households with an unmarried couple increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the West Midlands (from 7.9% in 2001 to 9.6% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 8.3% to 9.9%.

The percentage of households with a cohabiting couple in Sandwell increased by 2.2 percentage points

Percentage of households in Sandwell, the West Midlands and England that had an unmarried couple, March 2001 and March 2011

More people worked short hours

The percentage of employed people in Sandwell working less than 16 hours increased from 1.3% to 2.5% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just under 1 in 14 (7.0%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, compared with 10.3% in 2001.

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the West Midlands (from 1.7% in 2001 to 3.0% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.9% to 3.1%.

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week in Sandwell increased by 1.2 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Sandwell, the West Midlands and England that said they had worked less than 16 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Change in unpaid care

The percentage of Sandwell residents that provided between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 1.6% to 1.9% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

The percentage who reported providing at least 50 hours of unpaid care each week remained close to 2.8%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the West Midlands (from 1.2% in 2001 to 1.5% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.1% to 1.4%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care in Sandwell remained close to 1.9%

Percentage of usual residents in England, West Midlands and Sandwell by care, March 2001 and March 2011

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